Africa...when will you be priced out??

[LivingTheDream]

I fully agree with this point. There doesnt appear to be any shortage of younger hunters wanting to do elk hunts. When tags are sold and there are no hunters on public land I might believe the anti-hunting tag conspiracy, but I see no reason to think it has an impact now.

I also think that everyone puts in for every state now. Having so much information out there as well as how easy it is to apply is both a blessing and a curse.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I also think that everyone puts in for every state now. Having so much information out there as well as how easy it is to apply is both a blessing and a curse.

That and all these services that help with a strategy, do your applications for you, and sometimes even front the bulk of the money (for a fee). The guys like us and @DLSJR who’ve been applying for years on our own is a pretty small group but we’re typically the top 20% of points holders

 

[deewayne2003]

That and all these services that help with a strategy, do your applications for you, and sometimes even front the bulk of the money (for a fee). The guys like us and @DLSJR who’ve been applying for years on our own is a pretty small group but we’re typically the top 20% of points holders

I’ve been applying for the Oklahoma Elk & Pronghorn lottos for 17 years now… I keep hope alive because one now deceased buddy got drawn for Elk his first year.

20 years ago hunting land and leases in southern Oklahoma were 20-25% of what it was in Texas; I remember in 2004 a buddy of mine bought 900ac of prime whitetail property for $600ac

Then in recent years Meat Eater and other shows displayed the hunting quality and public lands of Oklahoma…. Prices skyrocketed in the last 5 years.

Non resident deer hunters in Oklahoma now have to buy….
$209 annual nonresident license +
$501 Archery license
$501 Muzzle loader license(9 day season)
$501 Rifle license

If you’re hunting public land extra fees and licensing apply.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’ve been applying for the Oklahoma Elk & Pronghorn lottos for 17 years now… I keep hope alive because one now deceased buddy got drawn for Elk his first year.

20 years ago hunting land and leases in southern Oklahoma were 20-25% of what it was in Texas; I remember in 2004 a buddy of mine bought 900ac of prime whitetail property for $600ac

Then in recent years Meat Eater and other shows displayed the hunting quality and public lands of Oklahoma…. Prices skyrocketed in the last 5 years.

Non resident deer hunters in Oklahoma now have to buy….
$209 annual nonresident license +
$501 Archery license
$501 Muzzle loader license(9 day season)
$501 Rifle license

If you’re hunting public land extra fees and licensing apply.

It’s a common theme in most states. Saw it happening in Alabama and Georgia when I lived there as well. Seeing it here in Texas and know a lot of North Texans going to Oklahoma and Arkansas because even with those non res costs it’s cheaper than Texas. A lot of the lease price increases have to do with a reduction in hunter land access. There’s always going to be someone with more money than us, who’s willing to spend more than what we consider logical on something.

There are also states like Tennessee who paid YouTubers such as Hunting Public to hunt their state to try and increase non-resident hunters.

Good Luck on drawing in Oklahoma. One of the few states I don’t apply in.
I just wrapped up my Arizona applications this morning. If you apply in most of the states like @LivingTheDream and i it’s a lot of money to outlay. In WY alone it was a little over $18k this year and that’s with me not applying for Pronghorn because I’ve got enough points to draw a Red Desert Tag, just waiting for the population to bounce back a bit and then few good dry years to help with horn growth so I can search for a true monster. That’s also deceptive because I’ll keep buying points on Antelope when it opens in July to stay ahead of the curve for when I think the herd and environmental conditions are ideal. The. That year, I’ll jump in. Unfortunately that also messes with the odds and points creep required to draw that unit since I’m not presently being counted as an applicant with X number of points.

Start looking at all the other states Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Utah, California, Texas, New Hampshire, Vermont, etc and it’s a lot of money to spend on license/application fees and/or have tied up for a few months waiting on a refund. Once the “services” started offering the ability to “front” that money for applicants (for a fee) the number of people applying sky rocketed. Sad part is a lot of those applicants are the same age as you or I and 8-15 years behind us, since I started applying in 2005 in several states as a teenager and most of the other before I was 24.

 

[LivingTheDream]

It’s a common theme in most states. Saw it happening in Alabama and Georgia when I lived there as well. Seeing it here in Texas and know a lot of North Texans going to Oklahoma and Arkansas because even with those non res costs it’s cheaper than Texas. A lot of the lease price increases have to do with a reduction in hunter land access. There’s always going to be someone with more money than us, who’s willing to spend more than what we consider logical on something.

There are also states like Tennessee who paid YouTubers such as Hunting Public to hunt their state to try and increase non-resident hunters.

Good Luck on drawing in Oklahoma. One of the few states I don’t apply in.
I just wrapped up my Arizona applications this morning. If you apply in most of the states like @LivingTheDream and i it’s a lot of money to outlay. In WY alone it was a little over $18k this year and that’s with me not applying for Pronghorn because I’ve got enough points to draw a Red Desert Tag, just waiting for the population to bounce back a bit and then few good dry years to help with horn growth so I can search for a true monster. That’s also deceptive because I’ll keep buying points on Antelope when it opens in July to stay ahead of the curve for when I think the herd and environmental conditions are ideal. The. That year, I’ll jump in. Unfortunately that also messes with the odds and points creep required to draw that unit since I’m not presently being counted as an applicant with X number of points.

Start looking at all the other states Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Utah, California, Texas, New Hampshire, Vermont, etc and it’s a lot of money to spend on license/application fees and/or have tied up for a few months waiting on a refund. Once the “services” started offering the ability to “front” that money for applicants (for a fee) the number of people applying sky rocketed. Sad part is a lot of those applicants are the same age as you or I and 8-15 years behind us, since I started applying in 2005 in several states as a teenager and most of the other before I was 24.

I think the mindset is also changing some though, like you and me have talked about drawing the Red Desert. For me at least that will be the end of my Wyoming Antelope points, I will go shoot does or see what I can draw with zero points if I have nothing to do one year. I burned my elk points, and only building elk points in Arizona. I can draw pretty much any late rifle tag I want (probably will never draw early). Got some mule deer points in other places, but instead of saying this is something I will do every 4 or 5 years and rotate around states, I am treating as a once in a lifetime. I know other guys that are similiar.

I am sure I could fund a very nice safari with all of the money I have spent in points the last 20 years.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I think the mindset is also changing some though, like you and me have talked about drawing the Red Desert. For me at least that will be the end of my Wyoming Antelope points, I will go shoot does or see what I can draw with zero points if I have nothing to do one year. I burned my elk points, and only building elk points in Arizona. I can draw pretty much any late rifle tag I want (probably will never draw early). Got some mule deer points in other places, but instead of saying this is something I will do every 4 or 5 years and rotate around states, I am treating as a once in a lifetime. I know other guys that are similiar.

I am sure I could fund a very nice safari with all of the money I have spent in points the last 20 years.

You’re 100% right, the money we’ve spent over the last 20ish years on points and licenses to apply could fund a really nice Safari or could’ve paid for several of these hunts via a landowner voucher. I’d hate to pay the current or even past landowner voucher prices for some of the tags I’ve drawn.

Like you, with Wyoming changing tag allocation percentages and increasing non-resident costs to foot the state game management, once I draw each of the tags I’ve been chasing I’m pretty much out of the state as a longterm play for that species. Might do a pronghorn hunt that doesn’t require a draw, or some general tags that I can draw with 1-3 points and DIY. I might burn my points in Colorado next year or wait and see what happens with the pending changes to their draw system that hit in 2028. For me, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah will continue to be for longterm plays with the hope I draw something I shouldn’t in the random portion.

 

[Choupique]

I dont know that I'll ever be priced in to Africa. Its a dream, but at my current age and life trajectory its going to probably be a retirement gift type thing.

My problem is I want to do too much. I want to go on to a guided elk hunt with a lodge one day (not DIY out of a backpack like I do now). I want to hunt grizzly in Alaska. I want to hunt plains game free range in africa. I want to hunt dangerous game in africa. I want to hunt whitetails in Canada. Did I mention that I REALLY like blue water fishing.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Did I mention that I REALLY like blue water fishing.

Brother, I love going out deep sea fishing. Catching billfish to me is about as much fun as a person can have.

 

[3chunter]

By 2030, I will probably be priced out of western hunting.
Always wanted to whitetail hunt Canada but deer size is going down while pricing is skyrocketing. I am not paying $8000 for a whitetail and still having to rely on lots of luck to come away with a real good one.
If I pay that much, I want location, trail cams pics, etc of multiple big shooters that I will be hunting the full 5,6 how ever many days.
The outfitter pool just isn’t very good on average these days because many don’t care if you are successful or what you say about them. They will still be booked up with suckers either way.
I wish I would have done my travel hunting back in early 2000’s. I had a buddy shoot 2 caribou for $3000 all in back then from his door step and back. I remember researching elk hunts back then and thinking $2500 was too much for an elk and $2000 was way too much for an Iowa whitetail. lol.

 

[Rare Breed]

You’re 100% right, the money we’ve spent over the last 20ish years on points and licenses to apply could fund a really nice Safari or could’ve paid for several of these hunts via a landowner voucher. I’d hate to pay the current or even past landowner voucher prices for some of the tags I’ve drawn.

Like you, with Wyoming changing tag allocation percentages and increasing non-resident costs to foot the state game management, once I draw each of the tags I’ve been chasing I’m pretty much out of the state as a longterm play for that species. Might do a pronghorn hunt that doesn’t require a draw, or some general tags that I can draw with 1-3 points and DIY. I might burn my points in Colorado next year or wait and see what happens with the pending changes to their draw system that hit in 2028. For me, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah will continue to be for longterm plays with the hope I draw something I shouldn’t in the random portion.

Interesting what we do as we age…17 years ago I bought a 107 acre piece of property from my Uncle. Over those years I bought $50k in farm equipment, Invested $7500 per year in lime, seed and fertilizer building 35 acres of a combination of food plots and kill plots. Raised my children there with awesome deer and turkey results. I also had a second 40 acre farm as well. I well remember the excitement and pleasure of seeing the fruits of my labor. Now at 67 I just sold my last farm to my cousin putting the funds into my Africa hunting fund and my wife’s joint fun fund. Every life has a season and as I in great health move to my last season of life I take great memories and look forward to making new ones in Africa for as long as I can hunt

 

[fourfive8]

Yep about age and journeys and priorities and changing outlook. While I could probably keep up with the increasing costs of hunting, particularly international/Africa, priorities change. Now and for the future security and welfare of others, my focus is shifting. And it’s not just money… possibly of equal or greater importance is time. The hourglass is trickling. Currently looking out for and providing for a group of strays ranging in age from 4 to 18, with the 18 year old having a significant handicap.

Here are a couple of the younger priorities.

 

[R eight]

It is what it is. Prices reflect demand. It’s as simple as that. If you want it to happen then you just have to make it happen.

I’m a Baby Boomer, I got to see the last few weeks of the 50’s. I’ve spent most of my life in law enforcement. I’m not rich but I’ve never gone hungry. I live in Australia, my income is in the Ozzie dollar, and I pay for my US and African trips with the green back. What a sobering experience that is. But, the biggest thing is that I’m living in the only time in history….ever, that has provided the opportunity for a working class man to travel and hunt the world. Our standard of living is paladin. I grew up in the third largest city in Australia. During my primary school years I grew up in a household, which was like every other household in the suburbs. We didn’t have insect screens, we didn’t have electric fans, the toilet was outside with a weekly shit can collection. The nearest telephone was a pay phone in the next block. Only one house in my street had a phone. Air travel?? I didn’t know any rich people. Fuck…how things have changed.

What I’m trying to say is that things have never been better. Just make it happen. I’m almost 67. I head to Africa for the first time in less than 2 weeks. Elephant with a Rigby. Fingers crossed.

I can’t believe how lucky I am. Fellas, just make it happen.
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Life wasn’t meant to be easy…….apparently.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Well said